"D" the Ranter is Colorado's #1 Multi-sport MLBlogger. The Rant is written from a fan's perspective and you can count on "D" to tell you exactly how it is. Tried and Tested…There's a reason the Rant kicks ass in Colorado.

Results tagged ‘ Dante Bichette ’

Yankees vs Rockies Game 1

I didn’t feel like I had great pictures for this game so I was going to skip this particular blog entry. However this was a Rockies win, the only one of the series and the only one in a while. Plus how often are the Skankees in town?

Although I was shut-out for BP again…. I felt like BP was as it should be. Baseballs flying everywhere and folks I know catch’n ’em. I was witness to the Rox Addict snagg’n his first two of the season while surrounded by Yankee fans gloves.

Best thing about BP is it wasn’t raining…Yet.

I watched Jersey Geoff spring into action and snag Mariano Rivera’s autograph while in left field.

I was also witness to the end result of an overly eager ball hawk that decided it was a good idea to crowd Jersey Geoff. A BP ground rule double bounced off the warning track then off of a glove and tagged that eager ball hawk right in the eye. (He’s OK).

Folks, that’s how you keep an eye out for the ball🙂

With Joe Girardi (Skankees Manager and the Rockies first catcher) in town it was time for a group pic. Four old Rockies pretty much the same age as me. Prize for best hair hands down goes to Vinny Castilla.

Think these fellas have a few stories to tell?

I hung out with the Rox Addict most of this game, sitting just under the second level along the first baseline taking pictures and trying keep my camera dry.

It started raining early on and never stopped. Here’s my buddy “Big B” and his lady center picture toughing it out in the pavilion.

Remember this guy? Chris Nelson a Yankee!…Oh well at least he’ll get to play there.

Anyone else think Ichiro’s eyebrows look tattooed on? This dude is still one helluva player despite the botched make-up.

Quote from Walt Weiss about Jorge: “Jorge gave up three singles — that’s a big-time performance,” Weiss said. “It’s nice to see one of our starters go out there and pitch like he did. If we get good starting pitching like we have for the most part this year, we’re going to win games.”

LOL

As per usual, weather became an issue.

Cargo blasts a homer to center field and scores Rutledge…2-0 Rockies.

Quote from Cargo: “I won’t lie — I was a little angry the whole game,” Gonzalez said. “We’ve been playing in a lot of bad weather, in a lot of bad situations, but we’ve still got to go out there and do our best.”

Well played Cargo!

I’m “D” the Ranter and give a lil props to the Rockies as this was their first shutout win at Coors Field since a 6-0 victory over the Cubs last Sept. 26.

I’ll be sitting front row of the pavilion May 16-18 for the Giants series here at Coors Field with my only goal being catching a game homer. See you there…”D”

I wasn’t going to blog about this game but the pictures were so good and the fact that we play the Padres tonight I figured Rockies fans could use some inspiration.

4-7-11

Padres vs Rockies Game 3…Opening Weekend, Coors Field

It was Hunter and I today and I have to tell you, it’s pretty sweet walking into Coors Field for game 3 with the series won already. My goal today was to catch my first BP homer of the season and get David Nied to sign my poster of him I’ve had tucked away for years.

Here’s a shot of David in 1993.

Nied was the first pick for the expansion Colorado Rockies in the 1992 Major League Baseball expansion draft. Nied started in the first ever game for the Rockies, taking the loss against the New York Mets. He also pitched a number of other firsts for the Rockies, including first strikeout, first walk, first complete game, and first complete game shutout.

Nied compiled a 5-9 win-loss record in 1993 and went 9-7 in 1994 but won no more games in the next two years, playing sparingly. In 1996 he was granted free agency and joined the Cincinnati Reds organization. Nied retired from baseball at 28 after an arm injury. He now sells equipment for his father’s company. He is engaged to Heather Cranford, a former contestant on the TV show The Bachelor.

Batting Practice

For the second game in a row I was shut-out. However, Hunter’s learned if you can’t quite catch-em, positioning and being polite will win you the race. He snagged two baseballs today. Hunter probably could catch one, but his dad’s not ready to let him yet…Maybe next year.

Sorry, scares the shit out of me thinking about him just missing one and getting hit.

The Rockies had the elder Rockies from 1993 lined up along the first and third base lines signing autographs. By the time I figured out which line David Nied was in the line was almost up to the concourse. No matter, we made it in time and David signed my poster “Nied for Speed” when I asked him to.

Thank you David!

This baseball game was just fun to watch. Within a few minutes of the start of the game I had my first broken bat picture from Baby Bull Rosario.

His bat still in hand, and the broken piece and ball in the picture…Perfect!

Baby Bull is left holding a shank.

Sorry Jon😦

This is how not to catch a baseball.

JP showing exactly how to catch a ball, with style and some vertical leap.

Let’s just say it’s been a long winter and if you live in Colorado, …it ain’t over yet.

Colorado does Opening Day right. Right in the fact that you don’t need a ticket to the game to enjoy the festivities, just show up early ready to party. The weather was 70 degrees and perfect for April baseball.

The day started out with Douglas’s breakfast at the 20th St Cafe as it has for the last few Opening Days. In attendance were, Jersey Geoff, Mike the Rox Addict…

Fran and Robert.

Our host Douglas, Hunter and yours truly. On an extremely cool note, I only eat at the 20th St. Cafe once or twice a year and the waitress remembered what my breakfast order was.

That’s impressive!

Once we were full it was time to wander. Although there were a lot of folks hang’n around Coors Field, this OD seemed a bit mellower than ones I’ve attended in the past. Still there was lots going on.

Hunter and I stopped by and checked out my favorite local Artist Kyle Banister. Kyle had a primo spot for his art and was working on the Rockies 20th Anniversary logo in liquid chalk.🙂

Here’s Kyle Banister, Laura Rector, Eric Matelski working hard.

Here it is finished… WOW!!

Kyle’s work always pops out at you. His link is on my sidebar.

Stilt Man out harassing some lady trying to read a book?

Hunter and I met up with long time Rockies employee and Rant follower Missy. 15 years with the Rockies right Missy?

As we walked by the 850 KOA booth I noticed Goose Gossage and David Nied getting interviewed by Mike Rosin.

I have Goose’s autograph already but I was carrying a poster I wanted the “Nied for Speed” David Nied to sign. We waited around for a bit, but I figured I’d have better luck inside on Sunday acquiring Nied’s autograph.

Batting practice was taking place and as Hunter and I entered the pavilion a hit baseball had just rolled up to the wall. Matt Belisle picked it up, looked up and saw Hunter standing there and tossed it to him. Within a minute of entering the stadium Hunter had the first BP ball of the regular season.

Hunter managed to snag one more and his old man came up empty for Opening Day.

Before BP ended I met up with my a friend and co-worker Kevin and his daughter Sam. This was their first Opening day at Coors and you could tell they were happy to be there just soaking everything in.

Seemed like there were fewer balloons this year?

Ceremonial first pitch.

Gonna be a fun season seeing these guys around, it feels like old times.

I like the fact that Dante has the boys hitt’n good so far.

Props to Cargo for staying healthy last year…Another Gold Glove!

Damn that thing is shiny!

This set of conjoined twins is known as the Hellowitzki.

First pitch of the game.

Cargo showing you why he got the shiny glove.

WTF?

Look far left in the front row you can see Jersey Geoff in the mix.

This Canadian earned his bacon today.

Dex seconds before a home run blast to right field.

Dex’s home run ball just before it lands.

Dex gett’n some luv from the dugout. You can see John Elway and Dick Monfort above the dugout.

Wait a minute, the entire stadium is celebrating Dex’s home run and Elway is Texting?

Sorry John..I’m a huge fan but today you are the:

“Dude texting with TV seats” fan of the game.

Props to your girl though, she knows what time it is🙂

Watch your back “Baby Bull”!

Rockies beat the Padres in their Home Opener…5-2

Folks that’s three in row. The best the Rockies did last season was three in a row.

I’m extremely impressed with the Rockies pitching and hitting so far.

This team is loaded with talent, the question is: Is this the year we stay healthy and a new set of “Blake Street Bad-Asses” is born?

I’m “D” the Bad Ass Ranter….We need some attitude to go along with this altitude.

This was my first time visiting the Ranch(home to the Dodgers and White Sox). As far as spring training facilities go this one is a real gem. It’s beautifully laid out with little ponds and walkways everywhere.

We were there on a Monday and the back fields were almost deserted.

I wandered around, enjoying the early morning sun, reflecting on the past few days and thinking about life in general. How many spring training facilities can you get enough peace and quiet to actually relax and ponder shit?

While I was “Zone’n” I noticed some players gathering in the outfield of one of the practice fields. I watched as one of the coaches started hitting pop-flys right up against the outfield wall and players were jumping trying to catch them and keep ’em from going over the fence. I hurried over to where the balls were going over the fence and I noticed it was just me there. For a few short minutes it was yours truely catching the baseballs that the minor league players couldn’t snag. Eventually folks saw me having the time of my life and decided to join.

All in all probably 25 baseballs were hit out.

As soon as that drill was finished the minor leaguers started their batting practice. Sitt’n with seven baseballs already I was having a great day. BP was a bit more crowded but I manged to catch one on the bounce and one on the fly preventing a bystander from getting hit in the face with a home run ball.

Dude didn’t even say thank you….Dick

Folks, this place is special even if it is enemy territory.

Today wound up being not only a good day for baseballs but it was a great day for autographs.

I managed to get Todd Helton to sign my baseball, Eric Young Jr to sign a picture, and Skipper Walt Weiss signed my 1993 photo ball of him.

Plus, Dante signed a baseball card the Rox Addict hooked me up with.

Check out this motley autograph Crue..Left to Right, James, Eric, and Mike the Rox Addict.

James is the guy who made the “Helmer is my Homeboy” T-Shirts. Maybe it’s time for some Ranter shirts?

Anyone interested?

I don’t have many of these…Here’s Tulo smiling.

The Rockies lose this one to the White Sox. Matter of fact, the Rockies lost every game we saw them play the week we were in Arizona except for when they played the USA WBC team.

I have no idea what we’re in for this season as far as the Rockies go.

I’m “D” the Ranter…I’d like to thank the Rox Addict for splitt’n the costs and being good company.

It was fun, but this year’s trip is done. 20 days till the first home game at Coors Field!

When the plane landed in Phoenix we headed immediately to the car rental joint, picked up a snazzy Ford Focus, then drove straight to Talking Stick. We rolled up about 9:30 and the facility couldn’t have been prettier. The sun was shining with temperature in the mid 60’s. Being the first fan to ever attend a game here I have a special affiliation with Salt River Fields at Talking Stick even if there’s only a handful of fans that know of my accomplishment.

We meandered the backfields in search of anyone partaking in a little batting practice. It was eerily quiet on the Rockies side. ‘cept for a wee bit of minor league action going on so I hung out on the side lines and it paid off. I managed to snag two foul balls in a 10 minute time frame. Back in the game!

The goal was to see Team USA warm-up and we learned that they wouldn’t be out till this afternoon. At that point we figured it was time to take a visit to the local In and Out Burger and then check into our room. On the way back to the car I spotted my third ball of the day.

My first Easter egg of the season!

Food and hotel taken care of it was back to Salt River Fields where Mike and I ran into Eric B. After a quick hello I took off as I noticed Team USA was beginning to take BP on the D-backs side (bonus)!

There were probably 20 other ballhawks out in left field all salivating at the chance to snag a USA World Baseball. I hung out there for 45 minutes and had play on three balls. One I managed to snag as it bounced off of the gravel. I looked at it and unfortunately it was just a regular old MLB baseball.

That sucked!

Not long after that I witnessed the Rox Addict snag one on the fly. His was a plain old MLB ball too. I’ll give him big props as it was a sweet catch in the tip of his glove and he was surrounded by greedy ballhawks.

Tonight’s game was the Rockies vs Team USA. I had a seat in the front row along the Rockies side so I used the opportunity to snag a few autographs. I managed to get Todd Helton, Tyler Colvin, Dante Bichette, Jordan Pacheco and Eric Young Jr.

I have a great picture of Tulo in the Snow I’d love autographed, but as is usually the case “The Deuce” took the low road and exited the field ignoring his fans.

The redeye flight and no sleep was catching up with me so I took just a couple of pictures during the game and spent the last part of the game hang’n with Jersey Geoff, his buddy Mike, and the Rox Addict.

Rockies made it interesting in the 9th after trailing the entire game and actually pulled out a win. Funny though, Rockies did Team USA no favors when they actually had to loan them a few pitchers.

The four of us ended up in the outfield with absolutely no competition for home run balls and wouldn’t you know it, diddly squat came our way. You have no idea how funny it would have been had a home run been hit in our general direction. The scramble for that ball by the four of us would have been hilarious.

I’m “D” the Ranter and today was an excellent first day! My only goals for the first day were to bust out some shorts for the first time in 6 months and get a nice sunburn started.

As it has for the last couple of seasons Opening Day starts off with breakfast at the 2oth Street Cafe with a small group of the Rantics.

Left to Right are Mike the Rox Addict, Gary X, Alannah X, Rick, Amy, Drugless Douglas and Jersey Geoff.

The only plan this morning was to try to get Dante Bichette’s autograph before heading into Coors Field for the first batting practice of the season.

Last time I saw Dante he was a bald, not today. Dante was signing autographs and promoting Maxx HD sunglasses.

Dante was cool as a former Bomber should be and was signing multiple items for everyone.

Dante signed a game rubbed baseball for me.

Maybe someday I’ll run into Larry Walker and Andres Gallaraga and I’ll be able to finish up my Blake Street Bomber autograph collection.

I didn’t know at the time but meeting Dante would be the highlight of this day.

Check out the Patio Ride…Yeah I’d rent it, but only if I run that sucker downhill🙂

Lot’s of Rockies fans gett’n their drink on early on the rooftop.

Batting practice was a total bust. I’ve noticed at times when the Rockies hit really well during BP they hit well during the game. BP today was pitiful and I was hoping that wasn’t an indication of what the game was gonna be like.The pavillion pre-game was packed full of purple Rockies fans hoping to catch a souvenir.

Sorry folks, it’s not going to happen today. Your chances of getting beaned in the head by a stray foul ball were much better. Just ask the lady along the third base line celebrating her 69th birthday at Coors Field. She managed to snag a ball today, the one that cracked her skull.

That’s the first time I can remember seeing a fan hauled off from the field. Normally Paramedics would just carry them up the stairs.

I heard later that the elderly lady beaned in the head was recovering and was going to be ok. That’s cool, a happy ending and a helluva story for her to tell the grandkids.

Unfortunately a trend I’m not liking is continuing from last year. The Rockies ended their BP early thus depriving their fans of the only half-hour they get to watch their team take swings.C’mon Rockies, we wait in line in the hot sun so we can come inside and watch you take swings.

We’re allowed a measly half-hour to do this and you end practice 10-15 minutes early?

Listen, I’m not telling the Rockies what to do, I’m just giving them some insight into how fans think.

Graphmaster Gary X hold’n down the front row as per usual.

Mike the Rox Addict and Amy from “The Take from Blake”.

As an old buddy of mine used to say…That’s a crap-ton of balloons.

Matt Belisle giving us a wave.

The ceremonial first pitch times three.

Tulo was presented his Silver Slugger and Gold Glove award from 2011.

Here are the game pictures I took.

First pitch of the game.

Sandoval homers and the Giants are up by 2 in the first inning.

Helton third out toss-up.

Tulo milliseconds before his first hit.

Chacin starting to crumble.

Amy and Jersey Geoff chill’n.

My favorite picture of the day and one of the hardest to get. Cargo breaking his bat with the ball in the picture.

Zito was straight up money today and the Giants embarrass the Rockies on their Home Opener 7-0.

After the beating was over Mike, Gary X, Alannah and I headed over to where the post-game show is broadcast. We said we would do the “Bring Back Helmer” chant and we did.

Here’s the first video. You can see us in the background.

In this video you can hear us chanting “Bring Back Helmer” in the background as the Cowboy is talking.

Here is where I walk up to the wall(you can see my hat) and told them:

“I supported you and you let Helmer go for no good reason, I supported you Root Sports. You ain’t about the fan, You aint about the fan.”

After I finished the cops that were standing there waved me on.

The best video of all was Allannah X. She was able to get close up and got out a “Bring Back Helmer. Nice job Alannah!

We did what we could for Tom Helmer. He’s a great guy and he deserved folks standing up for him for the gutless way Poot Warts let him go.

Hindsight being 20/20, a big ole’ sign would have done wonders🙂

Let me state for the record, I like all of the rest of the broadcasters in the Poot Warts line-up although I haven’t watched Joel much as I’m boycotting the Post-Game going forward.

The protest had absolutely nothing to do with any of you, it was a protest against your employer. We were standing up and making a statement for a friend who was wronged by a company that claims to be about “The Fan”, but in reality doesn’t give a shit about “The Fan”, simple as that.

I’m “D” The Ranter and let me reiterate, meeting Dante Bichette was the highlight of this day, but it’s nice to know Rockies fans are taking Purple Mondays seriously🙂

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